Major Thursday Buzz page Push

Mahalo has been brewing up a fresh batch of buzzworthy pages for your clicking and viewing/reading pleasure.  Enjoy:

Here's a quick rundown:

http://www.mahalo.com/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world
The new trailer for this hotly-anticipated summer movie and graphic novel adaptation hit today!

http://www.mahalo.com/eric-cantor
Shots were fired at the office of this Republican Congressman the other night in protest of the health care vote

http://www.mahalo.com/panda-vs-tree-branch
Adorable panda fights with tree branch...need I say more?

http://www.mahalo.com/chris-reichert
Tea Partier who berated a Parkinson's patient the other day has apologized

http://www.mahalo.com/glee-sue-sylvester-sneaky-gays
Satirical video from the makers of "Glee" in which a character offers her theory on "sneaky gays" - this is funny

http://www.mahalo.com/richard-finch-arrest
Co-founder of KC and the Sunshine Band has been arrested and has admitted to having sex with boys as young as 13

http://www.mahalo.com/kid-crushed-by-hoop
A kid playing a little driveway hoops has an amusing accident

http://www.mahalo.com/stub/birdemic
Is "Birdemic" the worst film ever made? You make the call...

 

Enjoy them everybody

Posted via web from jonmahalo's posterous

Doubling My Examinations Weekly in SoCal

I'm pleased to share news about a pair of projects that I'm very excited about.  There are two new projects that I am getting involved in and look forward to your feedback and participation in these processes.

First, I have recently agreed to add to my Examiner.com title of Los Angeles Kings Examiner the new position of Los Angeles Dodgers Examiner.  I've had two tremendous years being associated with Examiner, and it has opened many doors for me both personally and professionally.  The Kings organization has been as courteous and professional as I've ever dealt with the sports world, especially the trio of media relations guys Jeff Moller, Mike Kalinowski and Jeremy Zager. 

I look forward to continuing to provide Kings' fans with the best coverage that they've come to expect from me.  The addition of my Dodgers duties will not deter from my passion for the sport of hockey and my coverage of the Kings, and I am excited about continuing my writing about the Kings.

I am also energized and motivated to bring an equal amount of passionate writing about the Dodgers.  My goal is to mirror what I've done with the Kings pieces in Examiner: to be precise and accurate in my reporting, to straddle the line between journalist and fan - leading towards the former but not ignoring the latter, and to bring unique story angles that others are not covering.  I have followed baseball my entire life, growing up a Mets fan in New Jersey, but I am honored to be associated on even the most seemingly abstract manner with an organization as storied and tradition-filled as the Dodgers.  I will be posting my first story later this week, so be sure to follow me on Twitter or Facebook so you can get the latest articles from me about two of L.A.'s biggest sports franchises.

 

Second bit of news will take place later today when I take part in the taping of a pilot episode for a proposed weekly Internet-based sports talk video series called This Week In SoCal Sports.  The folks at ThisWeekIn.com have developed several outstanding programs that are available each week to watch from their website.  The majority of these programs at the moment are "techie" type shows, but they also have a weekly chat show hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Pollak, and a show about start-up companies with Jason Calacanis.  And I should point out that those techie shows I mentioned are actually quite good too.  This Week in YouTube morphed from the Mahalo Daily podcast and features my buddy Lon Harris who puts the cool in snarkiness.  This Week in Cloud Computing with Mark Jeffrey and the talented Amanda Coolong as co-host. 

The idea and concept behind This Week in SoCal Sports is to present a one-hour live format that showcases all of what's happening in the sports scene around Greater Los Angeles.  This means not just the big four sports league teams and the two major university sports programs here in town, though we will talk about them to be sure.  We will talk about all of the other collegiate athletic programs in the area, provide coverage of amateur sports and those sports that only get occasional 'big event' mentioning like horse racing, boxing, track and field, swimming, and more.

High school sports seem to get some play in this market, but understandably the over-the-air locals can't devote a whole lot of time to them, and the cable nets don't see the upside for a show like this.  But I do, and the forum that we're proposing will allow us to find a niche audience that is being vastly under served.

The show will include me and my co-host, Charles Smith from Hockey Talk, giving opinions and commentary on the major sports stories each week.  Our spotlight segment will include live in-studio or via-Skype/phone interviews with people you'll want to get to know, as well as 'feature story' styled pieces.  Our roundtable segment will include other members of the media joining us for forum-styled discussions.  And by media, I don't just mean writers from the LA Times or FOX Sports Radio, although they'll be welcomed with open arms.  I'm talking about credentialed and non-credentialed on-line writers and bloggers.

The show will air live every week and will feature a live chat room for viewers/listeners to ask us and our questions and make comments.  In fact, another section of the show will be called the "No Huddle" segment where anyone can jump in and have one question and/or comment read live on the air for us to answer.

Additionally, some of the sport-specific correspondents from Moncrief in the Morning and having them resume those roles but in a much more localized fashion.  By the way, I'm still looking to get Sunday Tailgate back on the air sometime in June, so stay tuned for that when it happens.

Tonight's 15-minute pilot taping will feature two brief guest appearances from soccer correspondent Mario Melara of the blog spot page USA Soccer News, and Los Angeles Kings sideline reporter Heidi Androl of Fox Sports West.  I am excited about getting this show off the ground today and getting it into the "This Week In" rotation quickly.

As usual, I thank all of you that read my pieces on Examiner covering the Kings as well as those of you that know me personally for your continued support.

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Happy Anniversary Kevin Pollak

On today's episode of the Kevin Pollak Chat Show, it's the anniversary of the first airing of his initial webcast one year ago:

His newest episode, with clips from the past year and some special guests, is airing right now.  Join the fun by clicking this link:

http://www.kevinpollakschatshow.com/live/

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A Trio of Mahalo Pages to check out today

As I get ready to head to Staples Center for tonight's important Western Conference matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and the suddenly defenseman-challenged CHicago Blackhawks, I wanted to share three pages that are getting some interest around the net today from Mahalo:

• Murray State shocked Vanderbilt in the first round of the March Madness NCAA Tournament today as Danero Thomas hit a buzzer beater.  Click here for the video
• Tiger Woods is trying to put his recent past behind him, but like Al Pacino's character in Godfather III, just when he thinks he's out, they pull him back in.  Last night, South Park had perhaps the definitive word on our fascination with these kinds of stories and how unimportant they really are in the big picture.  Click here to check out some clips
• One of Tiger's former (insert your own adjective here) women Joslyn James.  If this is your thing, you might want to shake yourself, but read through the transcript first by clicking here

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Obama's NCAA picks - there's no place like home

Last year, President Obama selected all of the games in the NCAA Tournament, and he correctly projected before the tournament began that North Carolina would win the championship.  Even though he only correctly chose one of the Final Four teams, he faired well overall with his selections.

So now ESPN and their intreped college basketball insider, Andy Katz, are back at the White House for second stab at it, and if history does repeat itself, then Matt Steinhaus, Bill Riley, and the rest of Jayhawks Nation should rejoice.  That's because Mr. Obama has predicted thatr Kansas will win the national title.

To see the rest of his selections and video to accompany it, click here.

Posted via web from jonmahalo's posterous

Mahalo March Madness Merriment

Hey there fellow Mahaloans - want to get in on the latest pool?  Click onto Mahalo Answers and fill out your bracket:

http://www.mahalo.com/answers/mahalo-contests/mahalo-pool-partayy-ncaa-bracke...

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Still Big on the Big East

Although I'm 3,000 miles away, it's like I tend to say about a lot of thing: "You can take the boy out of Jersey, but you can't take Jersey out of the boy."

Or in this case, the East Coast bias.  I've given the March Madness selections a day to develop, and it's time for the great reveal.  Frist though, allow me to indulge in a little bit of promotion.  BTW, if you are wondering where yesterday's weekly edition of the "Rooting Interest" article I write for Examiner.com - well it'll be delayed until later this afternoon.  These days, there are some things in the works that make it hard to find time in the day to sleep...

So here we go, and understand that when I fill out my brackets, I always select the team that I think will win each region first, and then who I think they will face in a regional final.  It then allows me to be bold in picking some early round upsets within those brackets.  And of course, Mahalo will be covering the tournament.  In fact, they already have some good pages up now, so click here to get on the home page and check it out.

EAST
(1) Kentucky over (16) ETSU
(9) Wake Forest over (8) Texas
(12) Cornell over (5) Temple
(4) Wisconsin over (13) Wofford
(6) Marquette over (11) Washington
(14) Montana over (3) New Mexico
(10) Missouri over (7) Clemson
(2) West Virginia over (15) Morgan State

Kentucky over Wake Forest
Wisconsin over Cornell
Marquette over Montana
West Virginia over Missouri

Kentucky over Wisconsin
West Virginia over Marquette

Kentucky over West Virginia

SOUTH
(1) Duke over Play-in winner (I think this will be Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
(9) Louisville over (8) California
(12) Utah State over (5) Texas A&M
(4) Purdue over (13) Siena
(6) Notre Dame over (11) Old Dominion
(3) Baylor over (14) Sam Houston
(10) St. Mary's over (7) Richmond
(2) Villanova over (15) Robert Morris

Louisville over Duke
Utah State over Purdue
Notre Dame over Baylor
Villanova over St. Mary's

Louisville over Utah State
Villanova over Notre Dame

Villanova over Louisville

MIDWEST
(1) Kansas over (16) Lehigh
(9) Northern Iowa over (8) UNLV
(5) Michigan State over (12) New Mexico State
(4) Maryland over (13) Houston
(11) San Diego State over (6) Tennessee
(3) Georgetown over (14) Ohio
(10) Georgia Tech over (7) Oklahoma State
(2) Ohio State over (15) UC Santa Barbara

Kansas over Northern Iowa
Michigan State over Maryland
Georgetown over San Diego State
Ohio State over Georgia Tech

Kansas over Michigan State
Ohio State over Georgetown

Ohio State over Kansas

WEST
(1) Syracuse over (16) Vermont
(9) Florida State over (8)  Gonzaga
(5) Butler over (12) UTEP
(13) Murray State over (4) Vanderbilt
(11) Minnesota over (6) Xavier
(3) Pittsburgh over (14) Oakland
(10) Florida over (7) BYU
(2) Kansas State over (15) North Texas

Syracuse over Florida State
Butler over Murray State
Pittsburgh over minnesota
Kansas State over Florida

Syracuse over Butler
Pittsburgh over Kansas State

Syracuse over Pittsburgh

FINAL FOUR
Kentucky over Villanova
Syracuse over Ohio State

Kentucky over Syracuse

Posted via web from jonmahalo's posterous

2 videos worth checking out

I'll have some thoughts on March Madness a little later today or tomorrow, including my projections for the entire tournament.  This way, you can know who NOT to select in your office bracket pools.

In the meantime, you should check out these two videos that we built pages for a Mahalo today:

• One of these is a cool take on the old 'pulling the tablecloth off without knocking everything on the table off' trick involving a motorcycle.  It's available by clicking here or pasting this URL: http://www.mahalo.com/bmw-s1000-video
• The other is a new music video spoof from the guys at Funny or Die about a guy who digs pregnant women...maybe a little too much.  Check it out by clicking here to view our page or paste this URL: http://www.mahalo.com/she-gotta-bump - (shout out to former SRDS classmate Dave Cohen who co-wrote the video)

Enjoy your Monday everyone.  Oh, and memo to the LA Kings: STOP SCHEDULING AFTERNOON HOME GAMES! 

Posted via web from jonmahalo's posterous

Corey Haim's Death Should Be More Meaningful

As I began a day of hard work as the in-house buzz reporter at mahalo.com, I was saddened to see that the top story this morning was the death of actor Corey Haim.  Word is that LAPD found him unresponsive earlier this morning in his apartment.  Click this link to read our story on his death:

http://www.mahalo.com/corey-haim-dead

In a very small way I have a connection to Corey Haim.  It's not just that he was a big time child acting star of films that came out while I was in my teenage years such as Murphy's Romance and The Lost Boys.  He also starred in the film Lucas in 1986 with Charlie Sheen.  His love interest in that movie was Kerri Green, who is best known for that role and one in Goonies.  Green was a year ahead of me in high school at Pascack Hills in Montvale, New Jersey, so it was kind of a big deal that she was in these films.

But it's sad to read accounts of how his life, which spun completely out of control due to repeated bouts with alcohol and drug addicitons coupled with depression, has come to a sad ending.  It's the side of Hollywood that people don't like to talk about, especially when it's child actors that can't get past people stereotyping them forever in their famous childhood roles.  Haim maybe just another in a growing list of child actors that couldn't handle the fame from a young age, but because there seem to be so many stories like this, it's even more amazing to me to see people like Ron Howard, Drew Barrymore, and others escape the clutches of the dreaded 'child actor' label.

It's a shame to see his life end this way, and on a week where Hollywood goes out of its way to give itself a pat-on-the-back, it's ironic that this occurs this week of all weeks.  Rest in peace Corey.

 

Jon Moncrief serves as Buzz Reporter for Mahalo.com, and covers the Los Angeles Kings for Examiner.com.  Follow me on Twitter for the latest from me on the L.A. Kings, hockey, sports, and life in general by clicking here.

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Oscar Coverage Live today on Mahalo

It's Oscar Sunday here in Los Angeles, and while the actors are dressed to the nines and trying to avoid the potentially forecast raindrops on the red carpet, Mahalo is gearing up for what is easily their biggest day of the year.

It begins with the coverage of the Red Carpet entrances of all the stars.  We'll be providing live coverage here:

http://www.mahalo.com/oscar-red-carpet-live-coverage

Then as ABC begins their telecast for those that still have it at 8PM Eastern. 5PM Pacific.  For those in the New York metropolitan area dealing with the ABC/Cablevision nonsense, feel free to join us for our live coverage of the Academy Awards here:

http://www.mahalo.com/oscar-live-coverage

Enjoy the coverage everyone!  And for the latest on the ABC/Cablevision mess, check out this page: http://www.mahalo.com/cablevision-oscars-blackout

Posted via web from jonmahalo's posterous

NHL Trade Deadline TODAY

The 2010 NHL Trade Deadline is today, and for the third straight year, I'll be involved in helping to live blog about the day.  I've returned to Mahalo, as some of you may know, in a role as a buzz reporter.  Well in sports, few things create more buzz than trade talk.

My buddy Angie Marie will be leading the Mahalo coverage of the deadline, which you can follow all day at this link:

http://www.mahalo.com/nhl-trade-deadline

During the day, I'll be posting commentary on the deals get done, and the ones that likely won't.  Then later today, I'll write a commentary piece on Examiner.com, in my role as the LA Kings Examiner, looking at the day that was for the Kings in specificity, and the league in general.

Hockey fans are still buzzing about that tremendous game from Sunday between Canada and the United States.  But we know what that's like every June, don't we?  Enjoy the day puck heads...

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